Get the Revere Journal stories emailed to you every week!

RHS cracks down on dress; uniforms up for debate

On any given day at Revere High School (RHS), one might see students coming through the front door wearing pajamas, flip-flops and sweat suits.

Girls wear spandex pants that are too tight.

Boys wear baggy pants that are too loose.

It’s a pretty relaxed atmosphere, seemingly.

Too relaxed, though, say administrators.

RHS Principal Lourenço Garcia and Superintendent Paul Dakin have begun cracking down on the dress code at RHS and it has some students and parents upset, while others are relieved.

It’s an exercise that both administrators said will eventually lead to a conversation about school uniforms.

“There are more parents interested in getting things under control than those who are mad about this,” said Dakin. “There are even a small number who are wanting us to consider uniforms and we’re scratching our heads on that one. Dr. Garcia will talk with parents and students to see if we can get rid of all this foolishness about who is wearing what by going to uniforms…School is a workplace for kids. Sometimes if you bring beach clothes to work, the work doesn’t get done like it should. Kids are bringing beach clothes to school. And if you’re wearing pajamas to school – and we’ve seen kids come with pajama bottoms and slippers – it’s not conducive to that workplace.”

Garcia, who is in his first year at RHS, has been the driving force for the crackdown on student dress.

“We are cracking down on that,” he said. “That’s why a lot of kids are becoming anxious about that…Some kids come with pajamas on. Where do we draw the line?”

Garcia said that he is in the process of tightening up the language in the Student Handbook about what can and cannot be worn to school. He said he would probably put out an addendum to the Handbook rather quickly.

“I am revising the language to make sure it’s more specific and strict so the kids understand the guidelines,” he said.

He also said that the situation at least deserves a conversation about school uniforms – something that the high school has never considered before.

“Many schools are thinking about school uniforms,” he said. “We are studying the issue. Basically, I think that’s better for students and parents. It will bring the cost of clothing down and will eliminate competition among the kids. You come to school with one standard of dress.”

Garcia said that he would soon begin to put together a task force of parents, students and administrators/faculty to study the school uniform issue.

“This is a decision that really needs to be vetted through the community,” said Dakin. “Personally, I think it has a lot of possibilities for eliminating distractions and improving the learning environment. The conversation and thought has to be elevated to thinking about what we are really preparing kids for.”

Clarifying the dress code, and perhaps adopting uniforms, is a matter of public safety, and a matter of creating the best learning environment, Dakin and Garcia said.

“I really think Dr. Garcia is on to something here,” said Dakin.

The issue will be addressed at the School Committee as well, where that board will have some input on the clarified code and also the idea of uniforms.

Garcia said some of the items they are cracking down on are:

•Spandex pants

•Pajamas/sleepwear

•Inappropriate footwear, such as flip-flops

•Undergarments that are showing as a result of baggy pants

•Wearing large winter jackets inside the school

•Head gear such as hats, bandanas, and kerchiefs

•Sweatpants or jeans with writing on the rear end

•Miniskirts

•Untied tennis shoes

•Anything gang related

•Shirts that leave a bare midriff, or are sleeveless/strapless

It was originally believed that Ugg boots were prohibited, but Garcia said that was just a rumor and was not true.

Garcia said that the final decision does rest with the principals, and they will use common sense and discretion. He noted that each case is individual and it is clear when someone is violating the rule.

He said that the school will not hesitate to call parents when students show up with inappropriate clothing, and if the offense is repeated it could lead to detention or suspension.

“This is a place kids come to learn,” said Garcia. “They can come and have fun. There are a lot of ways to come to school and have fun. Coming to expose themselves and to show off their bodies, they can’t do that. We want them to learn that’s not acceptable. Down the line, they’ll understand we have their best interests in mind and we want them to be able to learn without distractions.”

guest

What a joke, I guess once you walk through those dreaded hideous walls of a hell called Revere High School, all your consitutional and American rights go out the window. Such a joke. Try fixing the issue that Revere High should actually focus on TEACHING, not what people are wearing.

Bsox621

Attention school board. Waterloo, Iowa recently went to a dress code and a Judge ruled against its legality. It is technical but to summarize, you can’t specifically tell them what to wear but you CAN tell them what NOT to wear. SO, write the code accordingly. It is currently being re-written.

Peter Mucci

It’s about time school authorities did something about it. It’s a shame to see kids dressed in pajama’s and slippers and other clothing that is inappropriate while at school.

parent

what a joke. he comes in worrying about what the kids are wearing, when actually he should be focusing on his teachers NOT teaching. hey parents out there ask your children how many movies they watch a day instead of being taught and ask them how many teachers use vulgarity on a daily basis? DR.GARCIA YOU HAVE BIGGER THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT. DR.DAKEN SHAME ON YOU! IVE BEEN IN YOUR OFFICE MANY TIMES ABOUT THE THINGS MENTIONED AND YOU NEVER GAVE ANY OF THEM A SECOND THAGUHT.

parent

EXACTLY

Healthandfitness

Boy’s buttocks completely exposed, not always in loose boxer shorts, but often in tight underwear, is ABSOLUTELY inappropriate in the STREET, never mind in an institution of learning. I see it dropping my kids of every day before I go to work. The same is true with girls who walk around the school with three-quarters of their breasts hanging out, or wearing jeans that look like they were spray-painted onto them. Pajamas/flannels are for bedrooms, not for classrooms. I know many parents are not at home when their teens leave for school and cannot prevent it. But, there are plenty of girls who bring different clothes (if their parents drop them off in the morning at school) and change into the racier clothes in the bathroom. Uniforms would save parents a LOT of money, reduce a TON of distractions in the school, and eliminate all this foolishness. Revere is constantly called a “ghetto” — let’s do something TOGETHER to change that image, and start with our kids. My son and daughter look, at least, fully DRESSED when they arrive at school. This is a NO-BRAINER. I applaud and support the Superintendent and all Principals in their efforts to make school about teaching and learning, not about BURLESQUE. The blogger here “parent” obviously has a personal beef with the principal at RHS. RPS is the envy of the state in recognition and their scores. Read the Journal and you’ll know that! My kids, when asked, said they’ve seen a total of about 2 hours worth of movie clips a year (related to what they are reading) and that their teachers do not swear. They mostly complained of how many kid try to sleep in class. MAKE your kids to bed at night! Let’s unite, not divide. And don’t let your kids stay home unless they are ACTUALLY sick. School is a practice workplace for the future of all our children. COME ON!!!!!!!!!

RevereReporter

Great discussion here. Uniforms are controversial. The way some kids at RHS dress now is also controversial. Be interesting to see what they come up with. I urge parents to get involved with this upcoming task force. One observation, I’ve seen students at the HS dressed very provocatively, and then later I’ve seen them at their after-school jobs where they’re dressed very modestly. School should be a workplace and the same as a workplace.

guest

i am a senior at revere high school. i know and understand what the school is trying to do, but this is very out of line. i understand its a work place and yes there are girls who dress with low cut shirts and boys with there pants low. but i dont think its write punishing the entire school to wear uniforms. If garcia decides to pull this through then half way through my senior year i would have to pay more money to wear uniforms for 4 months left. NO POINT. plus ever since Garcia became principal he is changing everything. were not allowed to go to the bathroom without signing in and out and as soon as we get here we have to go straight to class. now we cant wear sweatpants i understand pajamas are an issue but the teachers in this school are a greater one. i watch ALOT of movies i dont know about your children and most of my teachers swear its HIGHSCHOOL everyone not MILITARY. we have constitutional rights and im going to wear what i want if i get kicked out so be it but if my mother does ot think i look like a distraction then im not one. i wear yoga pants and those are the spandex they are talking about. i honestly wear yoga pants everyday and if he thinks there a distraction then oh well. UNIFORMS ARE A BAD IDEA. and yeah they will lower the cost of clothes but how much do you think the uniforms are going to cost?

guest

All RHS students should just be issued a prison jumpsuit, because that is the next step for nearly all of these pieces of trash that pass through those doors. What a disgusting sewer that stuck-in-1988 crap city is.

Shirleyaveboy-24

I saw a film from the 30s on school uniforms but the naration was kind of hard to understand…IT WAS IN GERMAN!

ConsernedStudent

I’m a sophmore at rhs. I understand yoga pants, boys baggy pants and pajamas/slippers, but how are sandals a distraction? They should be worrying about better things like fixing the school lunchs, getting teachers that actually teach, having enough money for the whole school to get better desks and chairs etc., but they’re buying ipads for themselves? If they can’t afford desk and chairs how are they going to afford uniforms? Maybe half of the school would listen, but they can’t understand half of what Garcia is saying. Honestly, this principal sucks it was so much better with DeRousi.